Compare towns
Bedford vs Lyme vs Bow vs Amherst
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bedford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10%).
Lyme has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Bow has the most kids (25% under 18).
Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Bedford | Lyme | Bow | Amherst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,746Highest |
1,710Lowest |
8,335 |
11,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+4.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45±2.2 4% above NH |
48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
45.9±3.5 6% above NH |
| Lyme and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±2.5 NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.5%±2.1 NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.2%±3 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 63% NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
65.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.1 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5 NH: 6% |
| Bow and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $167,418±$12k 69% above NH |
$133,906±$15kLowest 35% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$153,196±$10k 55% above NH |
| Bow and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $612,100±$26k 52% above NH |
$645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
$506,500±$34kLowest 26% above NH |
$537,600±$30k 34% above NH |
| Lyme and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,099±$274Highest 41% above NH |
$1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$1,462±$256 about the NH average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,803 47% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,584Lowest 44% above NH |
$9,773 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.4%±15.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
31.4%±9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Bedford and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% NH: 72.8% |
80.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.5% NH: 72.8% |
91.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 27%±3.4 NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4 NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Amherst and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #7 of 120 in NH | — | #26 of 120 in NH | #20 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bedford School District | Lyme School District | Bow School District | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Bedford High School | None in town | Bow High School | Souhegan Coop High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
— | 12.8 |
10.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.